MP slams onshore wind farms as unreliable, noisy and expensive

The benefits of onshore wind farms have been hugely exaggerated, according to South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom.

In an article published on the Conservativehome Comment website Mrs Leadsom called wind farms 'unreliable' and costly.

She also wrote about their impact on communities, siting concerns over their visual impact and the noise they make.

The article follows a recent three hour House of Commons debate, opened by Mrs Leadsom.
In it she says the debate about onshore wind farms goes to the very heart of the battle between ‘localism’ and the ‘national interest’.

In conclusion, she wrote: 'While I accept that onshore wind has its part to play in generating renewable energy, I conclude that the benefits of onshore wind have been hugely exaggerated by the developers who stand to make huge sums from the taxpayer incentives.

'In addition, we are genuinely adding to fuel poverty in this country and costing consumers and businesses billions of pounds because of this battle to develop onshore wind. We need to look much more closely at other sources of renewable energy.

'Ground source heat pumps have been described as, ‘the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective space-conditioning systems available’. There are also tidal and marine technologies, which are more predictable and reliable than wind, and they are cheap to maintain once they are established. Hydroelectric power is even more reliable than tidal power, because it allows water to be stored to meet peak demand.'